Ritter was born in Murvaul, Texas, and became known as the “singing cowboy.” He was a major musical force, helping establish the Country Music Foundation and the Country Music Hall of Fame. He is most remembered for his rendition of the theme song to the film High Noon. He also appeared in a number of B-Westerns as an actor. Ritter was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee, the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1980.